If I have more passengers than available seatbelts, who should be belted up?
The seat belt rule requires all available seat belts in the vehicle to be used up. You may choose to carry more passengers than the number of seat belts in your car but you have to be mindful that you are taking a risk in respect of over capacity for the vehicle, which is reflected in the vehicle log card. The extra passenger would not have to be belted up. The choice of who should be belted up, children or adults, is made by you with due consideration to the space constraint in the vehicle so long as belts are all used up. We do not take enforcement action against such situations.

Are pregnant women required to use seat belts?
The law does not exempt pregnant women from the seat belt rules. The public might wish to note that it is safer for a pregnant woman to be belted up as it protects the fetus. For those in advanced stages of pregnancy, they are advised to tuck the lap belt just below their stomach area for comfort and safer use. However, if one wishes to be exempted from the rule one will need to submit a medical certification to Traffic Police for consideration. A medical board will be convened to look into the case.

How do I apply for an exemption if I have a medical condition that does not allow me to wear seat belts?
The rules provide for this-: you may get a letter from your family doctor and submit it to the Traffic Police or Ministry of Health. A medical board will be convened to look into the case.

What are the penalties for drivers and passengers of private cars who are not belted up?
$120 fine will be imposed on the passenger who is not belted up. The driver will be fined $120 and given 3 demerit points for failing to ensure that his passenger is belted up. (If e.g. 3 passengers are not belted up, the driver will be fined only $120 and given 3 demerit points for not ensuring that his 3 passengers are not belted up.)
If the driver is not belted up, he/she will be fined $120 and given 3 demerit points.

Will police officers just issue summonses after taking down the car number without stopping to check and verify?
Police officers will stop the car to check and verify when an offence has been committed.
If an offence is committed, a summons will be issued.

What are the penalties for taxi passengers who are not belted up?
They will be fined $120 each. The taxi driver will be fined $120 and given 3 demerit points for failing to ensure that his passengers are belted up.

Does an adult below 1.5m need a booster seat?
Adults below the height of 1.5m are exempted from the law. They may choose to use the booster seat if they wish to wear the seat belts comfortably and effectively.

If my friend has a kid who is below 8 years old and they want to hitch a ride in my car and my car has no child seats, will I be penalized if I were stopped by TP?
All private vehicles that come with seat belts will have to abide by the seat belt rules so if you have a child below 8 years old travelling with you, you will need to have a child seat for him. Generally, our officers will exercise flexibility if such rides are infrequent and on ad-hoc basis. However, if the rides are frequent or regular, it is advised that you discuss with your friend on investing in a child seat.

If I wear a seat belt, wouldn't I risk being trapped in a burning or submerged car?
Less than one-half of one percent of all injury producing collisions involve fire or submersion. However, if fire or submersion does occur, wearing a seat belt can save your life. If you are involved in a crash without your seat belt, you might be stunned or knocked unconscious by striking the interior of the car. This can significantly reduce your chances of escaping from a burning or submerged car.
You are better off wearing a safety belt at all times in an automobile. With seat belts, you are more likely to be unhurt, alert and capable of escaping quickly.

If I don't wear a seat belt and am hurt in an accident, it does not affect anyone else. If I choose not to be belted up, am I not merely exercising a personal right?
Seat belt use is more than just a personal right. From time to time we have rear seat passengers dying or getting seriously injured because they had not used their seat belts. This is a cause for concern. Motorists should cultivate the good habit of belting up in the interest of safe motoring. We must also realize that for every unnecessary injury or fatality resulting from a collision, there are economic costs to society. This include medical costs and subsidies as well as the loss of contribution to the economy by the economically active. Besides, an unbelted person might cause injury to belted passengers in the same car by knocking into them.

Isn't the rear seat safe enough not to need a safety seat?
Studies have shown that wearing rear seat belts save lives. Research has found that rear seat passengers who did not belt up were flung forward during accidents. They became human projectiles which were hurled forward at great force, almost always causing very serious injuries to the passengers in front. The research also estimated that 79% of deaths of front seat occupants could have been prevented if the rear-seat passengers had worn seat belts.

What if I need to get my child out of the car quickly? Won't a child restraint delay me?
Such cases are rare. Furthermore, most child safety seats have quick-release buckles, making it easy for adults to unfasten.

How can I get my child used to a safety seat?
Present the safety seat as a special place for the child to sit. You can also allow toddlers to play with the seat in the house, using it to hold their dolls or teddy bears.

What if my child is below 8, but big-sized. Does he still have to wear a child restraint?
In such cases, children should use booster seats to raise their height to the level where they can safely use adult seat belts. Traffic Police will exercise flexibility in these cases.

Will my baby be uncomfortable in a baby capsule?
You could try padding the seat with other soft materials.

Why must children below 8 years be secured in child safety seats?
Most Singaporean children below 8 are not tall enough to use a seat belt safely. They are therefore best protected in a child safety seat.

How can I encourage active children to remain in a safety seat?
Try to keep their attention occupied with soft toys or books. If possible, an adult should sit next to the child and tell stories, play games etc.

Why are buses not fitted with rear seat belts?
The Land Transport Authority and the Traffic Police are working together to monitor and, if necessary, review the situation with regards to seat belts in buses. The operational impact of installing seat belts on all buses is a multi-faceted one and must be looked at holistically from all angles, for example, balancing between passenger movement efficiency and safety and ways to extend the same protection to standing passengers, among other things.